Preps Plus.

No-hitter Tells Rest Of Story

Harlem Shuts Down Weary Glenwood

DeKALB — Most everyone in the capacity crowd at Northern Illinois was wondering the same thing.

How much did Chatham Glenwood have left?

A total of 1,221 spectators--the largest crowd to watch a softball game at Bell Field since the stadium opened in 1991--crammed into NIU's home field Saturday night to find out the answer.

It had taken Glenwood a state-tournament record 4 hours and 38 minutes to prevail over Lockport 2-1 in 20 innings during Saturday afternoon's Class AA semifinals. Those 20 innings were another record.

Glenwood pitcher Lindsay Tasker had 3 1/2 hours to recuperate for the title game after throwing the entire 20 innings.

"I had moments of fatigue," Tasker said. "But one of my teammates would make an awesome play and get me right back up. They are the best in the state, and I wouldn't trade them for anyone."

A worn-out Glenwood finally succumbed to Machesney Park Harlem 1-0 in the Class AA softball championship as Emily Granath fired a no-hitter. It was the second state title for Harlem (35-5), which also won in 1980.

In the top of the seventh, Harlem's Amanda Wade led off with a single, was sacrificed to second and scored when Glenwood left-fielder Natalie Overman overran Jennifer Seipts' base hit. Seipts also had the game-winning hit in Harlem's 1-0 semifinal victory over Sandburg.

This was a classic showdown of dominant pitchers. Granath came into the game with a 24-3 record and 20 shutouts. Tasker was 22-5 and had just outdueled Lockport All-Stater Shannon Lindgren, acknowledged as the premier pitcher in the state.